Train-delivering and station-receiving mail-bag apparatus.



No. 892,786. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. W. N. WEST. TRAIN DELIVERING AND STATION RECEIVING MAIL BAG. APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED NOV.25. I907.

2 SIIIJETS-SIIEET 1.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. W. N. WEST.

I TRAIN DELIVERING AND STATION RECEIVING MAIL BAG APPARATUS.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25. 1907.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. WEST, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS HECTOR, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRAIN-DELIVERING AND STATION-RECEIVIN G MAIL-BAG APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. WEST, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of VVyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Delivering and Station-Receiving Mail-Bag Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to train-delivering and station-receiving mail bag apparatus, and my object is to produce an apparatus which will operate. eiiiciently and reliably with the minimum of wear and tear on the bags.

A further object is to produce a receiving apparatus which disposes the bags in a position out of the path of trains passing on the adjacent track and near the ground so as to facilitate its removal by the station agent or other person in charge.

A still further object is to produce a catcher capable of receiving and reliably holding one or a number of bags.

A still further object is to produce a buffer which offers an increased resistance to the throw imparted to the catcher by the bag or ba s.

A still further object is to produce an apparatus of the character named, of comparatively simple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction.

IVith these general objects in view and .others as hereinafter appear the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a top view of apparatus enibodying my invention together with a part of a car equipped with the delivery part of the apparatus. Fig. 2, is a vertical section on line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a view of the receiving apparatus from the side most remote from the trackway. Fig. 4, is a vertical section of a part of the telescopic catchercarrying standard. Fig. 5, is a section on line VV of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a central vertical section of a art of the catcher. Fig. 7, is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section of the upper part of the construction shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8, isa section on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7.

In the said drawings 1 indicates a suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1907.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Serial No. 403.656.

platform adjacent to a track-way 2 upon which travel cars 3, the car shown being a mail car. 4 indicates brackets secured to said car at suitable points and 5 a vertical shaft journaled in said brackets and provided with arms 6 at its upper and lower ends, said arms being equipped at their outer ends with pins 7 arranged horizontally, projecting rearward with respect to the direction of travel of the car.

8 are rings or loops engaging the pins 7 and connected by straps or other flexible connections 9 to the upper and lower ends of a mail bag 10 so as to support the latter in a vertical position, and in order to swing the mail bag from a point within the car to a point exterior thereof as indicated in the drawings, the shaft 5 is equipped with a handle 11, any suitable ratchet or equivalent mechanism, not shown, being employed to secure the delivery frame as the parts 5, 6, 7 and 11 inclusive, are hereinafter termed, in the re quired position.

12 indicates a pair of bearings secured to platform 1, and 13 a rock shaft journaled in said bearings and arranged transversely of the track-way and provided with a pair of collars 14 to guard against endwise movement. Pivoted at 15 to shaft 13 to swing transversely of the track-way is a catchercarrying telescopic standard, the lower or pivot member 16 of said standard being tubular, and 17 indicates a pair of buffers in the shape of coiled springs mounted on rock shaft 13 and secured at one end as at 18 to the platform and having their opposite ends 19 terminating in hooks 20, exerting pressure in opposite directions upon member 16 of the pivoted standard the said spring buffers acting in opposition to each other in order to maintain said member in substantially a vertical position when not overcome by a preponderating pressure. 21 is a slot formed by and between a pair of arches 22 which together constitute a rigid slotted guide frame mounted upon the platform and inclining upward and inwardly toward the track-way for the purpose of compelling the telescopic standard when rocking shaft 13 in either direction, to move outward and for reversing such movement when returning to its upright position. 23 indicates pivoted catches mounted on one of the arches of the slotted frame and bridging the slot thereof, said catches being linked together pivotally by bars 24 and held yieldingly bridging such slot by springs 25. 26 indicates the other member of the telescopic standard, said member 26 being angular in cross-sectionpreferably rectangular as shown in Fig. 5, and extending slidingly through the screw cap 27 upon the upper end of tubular member 16. At its lower end member '26 is equipped with a head 28 within the tubular member, a coiled spring 29 being mounted upon member 26 and bearing at its opposite ends against the cap 27 and head 28 for the purpose of holding the telescopic standard yieldingly contracted with its upper end in a horizontal plane midway between arms 6 of the delivery apparatus. At its upper end the member 26 terminates in a substantially horizontal arm 30 which projects inward toward the track-way and in turn terminates in a vertically arranged tubular hub 31 equipped with a set screw 32 for impingement upon a shaft 33 journaled in said tubular hub, said screw being adapted to clamp said shaft rigidly in position. At its upper and lower ends which project beyond the corresponding ends of the tubular head, the shaft is provided with a pair of segmental slots 34 and 35 at opposite sides of its aXis and ournaled upon such slotted ends are the ends of a pair of substantially U shaped frames 36 and 37 which together constitute the frame work of a mail bag catcher, the member 36 being equipped with stud-bolts 38 projecting into slots 34 and member 37 with similar stud-bolt 39 projecting into slots 35, it being noted by reference to Fig. 1 particularly, that the two members of the catcher conjointly form a U-shaped frame when viewed in plan and that the outer or free ends of the members of said catcher are connected to the inner portions of the companion members by chains or equivalent flexible connections 40, the arrangement being such that said flexible connections occupy intersecting planes so that when the mail bag is forced into the catcher disposed to receive it, as shown in Fig. 1, it shall come in contact with said chains and by pressure thereagainst cause the two members of the catcher to swing inwardly as indicated. by the adjacent arrows Fig. 1, so as to clasp the mail bag firmly between them, the flexible connections of course yielding under such pressure so as to eventually practically encircle the mail bag, the distance which they clasp the latter being determined by its circumferential area, it being obvious that if two or three bags are fastened together for-simultaneous delivery they will in a similar manner be clasped between the chains and the frame members of the catcher.

To prevent the catcher opening andthe consequent escape of the bag or bags caught therein, one member is provided with a ratchet toothed rack bar 41 and the other with a spring-actuated pawl 42, the arrangement being such that the pawl, under the closing action of the catcher shall 'successively engage the teeth of the rack bar and thus guard against any accidental reopening movement of the catcher, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs.

7 and 8.

To prevent the catcher swiveling bodily so as to accidentally face in the Wrong direction to receive the mail bag from a passing train, the slots 34 and 35 and stud-bolts 38 and 39 are provided. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the frames 36 and 37 are free to swing in the direction indicated by the contiguous arrows, and that either of them has a limited movement in the direction indicated by its adjacent arrow. It will also be noticed, however, that the stud-bolt 38 carried by frame 36 normally engages one end wall of slot 34 and consequently will prevent swinging movement of said member 36 in the opposite direction to that indicated by its respective arrow and that stud-bolt 39 by engagement with one end wall of slot 35 will likewise prevent opposite swinging movement of member 37, this arrangement therefore preventing what 1 term swivel movement bodily of the .catcher, it being further noticed that the pawl and rack bar action will also prevent any accidental pivotal movement of said members in the direction in which they are permitted to swing so that there is practically no danger of accidental collapse or closing movement of the catcher.

In the event that the catcher is to be disposed in the direction to receive a mail bag from a train moving in the opposite direction to that indicated in Fig. 1, the set screw 32 is loosened so that the operator by grasping the catcher may turn its shaft 33 half way around, the set screw being then screwedhome to secure it in its new position.

Now as a mail bag strikes against the crossed chains or flexible connections and overcoming the resistance of the springactuated pawl effects the closing movement of the catcher, its impact causes the latter, together with the telescopic standard supporting it and the shaft 13, to swing or rock in the direction the train is moving, the opposing spring-buffer hereinbefore described, yielding to permit such action to occur, it

being understood in this connection that as such action begins the supporting pins 7 are withdrawn by the passing train from the rings or loops of the mail bag so as to leave the latter wholly supported by the catcher. The swinging 'or-rocking movement above referred to will be proportioned to the speed of the train and the weight of the bag, the strength of the spring-buffer being such that it will yield sufficiently for the lightest bag delivered by the slowest train to move the telescopic standard beyond the first catch 23, such catch immediately resuming its original position to preventthe restoration of the standard and the bag to its original position under the action of such buffer. With a train moving fast the standard may turn sufficiently far to pass the second catch or even the last catch. It will be seen that the swing or rocking movement of the standard is not only opposed by a spring-buffer but by the frictional engagement with the arches and particularly the inner arch of the slotted frame, and to still further counteract and diminish the movement imparted to such telescopic standard by the impact of the bag on the catcher I have made the said standard telescopic so that as it swings downward in either direction the impetus of the bag at its upper end will tend to slide member 26 outward in member 16, the spring 29 offering yielding resistance to such action.

It will be seen from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, that I have produced means for receiving a mail bag from a moving train with a minimum of wear and tear on the bag, and means for swinging and securing the bag away from dangerous proximity to the train and Where it can be conveniently removed from the catcher, it being understood that when it is desired to restore the latter to operative position to receive another bag, the rod 24 is manipulated to withdraw the catch or catches 23 from the path of the telescopic standard so. as to permit the compressed buffer to restore the standard to vertical position, it being noted in this connection that the buffer which tends to push the standard in the same direction traversed by the train, performs no function.

I wish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes that practically fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a suitable guide frame, a standard secured. at its lower end to rock longitudinally of said frame, means for yieldingly holding it in an upright position, a mail-ba catcher carried at the u per end of said standard above said guide frame, and a spring-actuated catch carried by the guide frame and adapted to yield to rocking movement of the standard and to prevent the latter from automatically returning to its upright position in the event that it passes said catch in its rocking movement.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable guide frame, a standard secured at its lower end to rock longitudinally of said frame, means for yieldingly holding it in an upright position, a reversible mail bag catcher carried at the upper end of the standard, and spring-actuated catches carried by the guide frame at opposite sides of and in the ath of rocking movement of the standard, for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitably sup orted guide frame, a springactuated catc carried thereby, a rock shaft extending transversely of said frame, a catcher-carrying standard engaging the guide frame and secured at its lower end to the rock shaft, and means for yieldingly resisting rocking movement of said standard.

4. In an ap aratus of the character de scribed, an inc ined guide frame, a substantially upright standard engaging the guide frame and arranged at its lower end to rock in the direction of the length of the frame and to operate pivotally transversely of said frame, yielding means for holding said standard in a substantially vertical position, a mail bag catcher carried at the upper end of the standard, and a pivoted catch carried by the frame in the path of rocking movement of the standard, for the nrpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a longitudinally slotted and laterally inclined arched guide frame, a standard projecting up through the slot of said guide frame and arranged to rock in the slot thereof and to also operate pivotally transversely of the guide frame, yielding means for holding the standard in a substantially upright position, a mail bag catcher carried by the standard above the guide frame at the side toward which the latter loans, and a springactuated catch carried by the guide frame and bridging the slot thereof, for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a longitudinally slotted and laterally inclined arched guide frame, a standard projecting up through the slot of said guide frame an( arranged to rock in the slot thereof and to also operate ivotally transversely of the guide frame, yielding means for holding the standard in a substantially upright position, a reversible mail bag catcher carried by the standard above the guide frame at the side toward which the latter leans, and a series of spring-actuated catches carried by the guide frame and bridging the longitudinal slot thereof in the path of rocking movement of the standard in each direction.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a longitudinally slotted and laterally inclined arched guide frame, a standard projeeting up through the slot of said guide frame and arranged to rock in the slot thereof and to also operate pivotally transversely of the guide frame, yielding'means for holding the standard in a substantially upright osition, a reversible mail bag catcher carried by the standard above the guide frame at the side toward which the latter leans, a series of springactuated catches carried by the guide frame and bridging the longitudinal slot thereof in the path of rocking movement of the standard in each direction, and a link pivotally connecting the catches of each series together.

8. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, an extensible standard arranged to rock in either direction and consisting of two members fitted slidingly together, yielding means for holding the standard in a substantially vertical or upright osition, and a mail bag catcher carried by the standard.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable guide frame, a shaft arranged transversely thereof, a standard comprising a tubular member secured to rock with the shaft and engaging the guide frame, a member fitting telescopically within the tubular member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a spring engaging the members to hold the standard yieldingly contracted, a mail bag catcher carried by the upper member of the standard, and a s pringactuated catch carried by the guide frame in the path of the rocking movement of the lower member of the standard, for the purpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable standard secured at its lower end to rock and provided at its upper end with a hub portion, a shaft secured in said hub portion, a mail bag catcher carried by said shaft and comprising two members pivoted to said shaft and adapted to swing inward or toward each other, and crossed flexible connections connecting each member near its outer end with the other member near its inner end.

11. In an apppratus of the character described, a suita le standard secured at its lower end to rock and provided at its upper end with a hub portion, a shaft secured in said hub portion, a mail bag catcher carried by said shaft and comprising two members pivoted to said shaft and adapted to swing inward or toward each other, crossed flexible connections connecting each member near its outer end with the other member near its inner end, and means for yieldingly resisting movement of the members-of the catches together.

carried by a car, and embodying arms projecting outwardly and equipped at their outer ends with pins projecting rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the car, a mail bag arranged vertically between and provided wlth loops or rings engaging said pins, a frame suitably secured at one side of the path of the car, a shaft suitably journaled and extending transversely of the travel of the car, a standard engaging the frame and carried by said shaft, means for yieldingly holding the standard upright, and a mail bag catcher carried at the upper end of the standard in a position to intercept the mail bag and consisting of a pair of pivoted members, crossed flexible connections connecting each member near its outer end with the other member near its inner end and adapted when struck by the mail bag to cause said members to close and clasp the mail bag between them, and means for automatically "preventing said members from opening after the mail bag is clasped between them.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a shaft provided at opposite sides with slots, and a catcher consisting of two members pivoted upon said shaft and provided at the opposite side of the latter to that from which they project with stud-bolts projecting into said slots and when the catcher is fully opened bearing against end walls of said slots.

14. The combination of a standard provided with a vertical hub, a shaft therein, means to clamp the shaft against rotatable action, a catcher secured upon said shaft above and below said hub, and consisting of a pair of substantially-U-shaped members connected by crossed flexible chains, means for yieldingly resisting closing movement of said members, and means for preventing opposite movement of said members beyond a predetermined oint.

In testimony w ereof I aflix my signature, 100

in the presence of two witnesses.

I/VILLIAM N. WEST.

Witnesses:

F. R. GLOBE, G. Y. THORPE= 

